New Approach to Analysis of Tar Components in Syngas Generated by Steam Gasification of Lignite in Fluidized Bed Gasifier

摘要

Lignite is a low-rank coal that is not used as a fuel in Japan. However, the effective utilization of this resource could be enabled by production of syngas (hydrogen, carbon monoxide, etc.) from lignite through gasification. Tar in the syngas generated using the fluidized bed gasifier must be removed, and the tar composition should be considered for the design of effective tar removal equipment. A new analysis and analytical methods of the tar were developed herein. Gas chromatograph mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and field desorption mass spectrometry (FD-MS) were used in combination to analyze the tar obtained during steam gasification of lignite at 1123 K using a laboratory-scale fluidized bed gasifier. The low-boiling-point components were previously identified by GC/MS. However, the combined use of GC/MS and FD-MS in the new approach presented herein enabled elucidation of the overall composition of tar, including the high-boiling-point components.